Teledynamic control



JDHN HAYS HAMMOND, ,3 IL, 01 GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

TELEDYNAMIC CONTROL.

Application filed July 15, 1913, Serial No. 779,142.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Join: HAYS HAM MOND, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Gloucester, in the State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Teledynamic Controls, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to systems for the control of mechanisms from a distance by means of radiant energy, and relates more particularly to the control of mechanisms and apparatus on torpedoes and to the operation of torpedoes.

In the operation of torpedoes it is sometimes necessary to make them dive in order to escape the enemys fire, or for other reasons, and if they are controlled by radiant energy, the received signals, when the antennm are under water, or even close to the surface, will be so feeble that the mechanisms will not be operative. Under such circumstances, it will therefore be necessary to provide automatic means aboard the torpedo to bring it back to the surface. I show such a system of control by my present invention.

The drawing shows a torpedo equipped with wireless receiving apparatus and mechanisms for operating it.

An antenna A is stretched between the masts B and B, of the torpedo T, and is connected by means of a leading-in wire A through the hollow mast B- with the inductance coil L and ground E, A block of insulating material, I, fills up the end of the hollow mast B insulating the leading-in wire A therefrom, and also preventing the entrance of Water into the interior of the torpedo when the latter dives.

An inductance coil L is inductively coupled with the coil L, and with the variable condenser C forms a tuned oscillatory circuit. By means of the rectifier F and condenser D unidirectional current impulses are supplied to the sensitive relay G. When relay G is actuated, battery H energizes, electromagnet M, which then attracts the core or plunger N. Plunger N is connected by a rod R with the piston" P, which travels in the cylinder 0. Compression spring S opposes the motion of piston P to the right, and when the attraction of magnet M for plunger N ceases, spring S pushes piston P Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 31922.

Renewed December 13, 1918. Serial No. 286,649.

structed that air can enter the cylinder quickly when piston P is moving to the right.

I The pllgnger N is connected by a rod R with the sea cock V and exhaust valve U, which respectively permit the outside water to enter and leave the cylinder 0'. A piston P travels in cylinder 0' and compres, sion spring S opposes the motion of P to the left and tends to push it back toward the right. Piston P is connected by means of rod R with lever Y or other suitable mechanism for operating the horizontal rudder W. I The springs S and S tend to keep the rudder W in a horizontal position, or to bring it back to such a position after it has been deflected-therefrom.

When it is desired to cause the torpedo T to dive, an impulse is sent from a radio transmitting station on shore, or on board another vessel. This impulse is received by the antenna. A and causes the above described radio receiving apparatus and relay G on. board the torpedo T' to be actuated. The electroma net M being energized pulls the plunger I? quickly to the right, and thereby opens the sea cock V and closes the exhaust valve U. The outside water being admitted to the cylinder Ocauses the piston P to move to the left, and by means of the rod R and lever Y, or other suitable mechanism, the horizontal rudder W will be deflected so that the forward end of the torpedo will be forced downward and the torpedo will dive.

When, however, the transmitted impulses cease, or when the received impulses, owing to the immersion of the antenna or its prox imity to the surface of the water, are too feeble to actuate the receiving apparatus, the electromagnet M will be de-energized and will cease to attract the plunger N. The piston P will then move slowly to the left, being retarded by the slow exhaust of air through the valve Q, and after piston P, plunger N and rod R have moved some distance to the left, sea cock V will be closed, and exhaust valve U will be opened, thus at the transmitting station, and will then automatically return to the surface. When the torpedo is at such a depth that the antenna is submerged or even close to the surface, the operator at the transmitting station will no longer have control over the torpedo, and it is essential that means such as are provided by my invention be employed to cause the torpedo to rise again to the surface.

Instead of having one tuned oscillatory circuit in my receiving apparatus, 1 may use other forms of radio receiving circuits and apparatus, and in general, I do not confine myself to the particular apparatus and mechanisms here shown, but various changes and modifications, within the knowledge of those skilled in the art, may be made in the particular apparatus shown and de scribed herein, without departing from the spirit of my invention, provided the means set forth in the following claims he employed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 2- 1. In a system of teledynamic control, a torpedo, receiving apparatus for radiant energy carried thereon, means controlled by said receiving apparatus for causing said torpedo to dive, and automatic means for rendering said diving means inoperative when the received energy is interrupted.

2. The combination with a submarine vessel, of radio receiving apparatus thereon, a magnet controlled by said apparatus, a. cylinder on said vessel, a piston arranged to reciprocate in said cylinder, :1 sea-valve arranged to admit sea Water into one end of said cylinder, a valve arranged to permit said water to exhaust from said cylinder,

means controlled by said electromagnet for actuating said valves, and a diving rudder operatively connected with said piston.

3. In a system of torpedo control, a toredo, means controlled by radiant energy or causing said torpedo to dive When energy is received, and automatic means for rendering said diving means inoperative when the received energy is interrupted.

4. In a system of teledynamic control, a

torpedo, a normally inoperative diving rudder on said torpedo, a receiving apparatus for radiant energy operatively connected ating mechanism to move the rudder in the opposite direction when the received energv is interrupted.

6. In a system of distance control for L011 pedoes, the combination with a torpedo,-oi' direction controlling mechanism on said torpedo, receiving apparatus for radiant energy operatively connected with said mechanism to permit same to be actuated quickly in one direction, and means for automatically moving said mechanism slowly in the opposite direction when the torpedo is submerged to a predetermined depth.

7. In a system of teledynamic control for submarine vessels, the combination with a submarine vessel, of a diving rudder carried thereby, a. piston operatively connected with said rudder, a sea-valve arranged to admit seawater under pressure from the surrounding sea into said cylinder and againstsaid piston, an exhaust valve arranged to permit the exhaust of said water from said cylinder. receiving apparatus for radiant energy comprising a solenoid having a core arranged to control said valves, and means automatically operative to return said core to an initial position when the received energy is inter rupted.

8. In combination, a torpedo radio receiving apparatus thereon, an electroma m-L. energized by radiant energy, a piston, a sea cock controlled by said electromagnet fm admitting fluid under pressure to one side of said piston, a rudder with a horizontal axis operatively connected with said piston. means whereby said rudder is caused to assume a diving position, and automatic means whereby said rudder is caused to return to a normal position.

9. The combination with a submarine vessel, of means arranged to be actuated by the pressure of the water surrounding said vessel for causing said vessel to change its depth, and means responsive to radiant energy for modifying the actuation of said first mentioned means.

10. The combination with a submarine vessel, of means carried by said vessel for causing said vessel to dive, said means being arranged to be actuated by the pressure of the water surrounding said vessel and including a rudder carried by said vessel and arranged to oscillate with respect thereto,

and means responsive to radiant energy for .said vessel to dive, means responsive to radiant energy for causing the inauguration of the actuation of said first mentioned means, said second mentioned means including a receiving element responsive to radiant energy and extending upwardly from said vessel, and means automatically operative to render said diving means inoperative when the energy received by said element is interrupted or when said vessel has reached such a depth that said element becomes ineffective to control said diving means.

12. The combination with a submarine vessel, of means carried thereby including a diving rudder arranged to be actuated by the pressure of the Water surrounding said vessel for causing said vessel to dive, means responsive to radiant energy for causing the inau ration of the actuation of said first mentioned means, said second mentioned means including a receiving element responsive to radiant energy and extending upwardly from said vessel, and means automatically operative to render said diving means inoperative when the energy received by said element is interrupted or when said vessel has reached such a depth that said element becomes ineffective to control said diving means.

13. The combination with a submarine vessel, of means carried thereby and arranged to be actuated by the pressure of the water surrounding said vessel for causing said vessel to dive, means responsive to radiant energy for inaugurating the actuation of said first mentioned means, means automatically operative to render said diving means inoperative, and means for automatically retarding the action of said third mentioned means.

14. The combination with a submarine vessel, of means carried thereby and arranged to be actuated by the pressure of the water surrounding said vessel for causing said vessel to dive, means responsive to radiant ener for inaugurating the actuation of said rst mentioned means, yielding means automatically operative to render said diving means inoperative, and means for automatically retarding the action of said third mentioned means.

15. The combination with a submarine vessel, of means arranged to be actuated by the pressure of the water surrounding said vessel for causing said vessel to dive, means for causing said vessel to return to the surface, and means responsive to radiant energy to control the actuation of said diving means and said returning means.

This specification signed and witnessed this 11th day of July A. D., 1913.

J OHN HAYS HAMMOND, JR.

Signed in the resence of-- JOHN D. fiNNINGHAM, L. Bram: Tum. 

